John Jackson Miller will be contributing a story for the upcoming fantasy anthologyKingdoms Fall which will be out next year from Cohesion Press. The anthology will also include stories by Kevin J. Anderson and David Farland (aka Dave Wolverton).

A Conversation in Blood by Paul S. Kemp is out today in hardcover, digital and audiobook formats. This is the third book in the Tales of Egil and Nix series, but it’s also a good jumping in point for new readers. Click here to read our full review.

Nix is a nimble thief with just enough knowledge of magic to get into serious trouble. Egil is the only priest of a discredited god. Together, they seek riches and renown, but somehow it is always misadventure and mayhem that find them—even in the dive bar they call home. And their luck has yet to change.

All Nix wants to do is cheer Egil up after a bout of heartbreak. And, of course, strike it so rich that they need never worry about their combined bar bill. But when the light-fingered scoundrel plunders a tomb and snatches mysterious golden plates covered in runes, the treasure brings terrifying trouble. Pursued by an abomination full of ravenous hunger and unquenchable wrath, Egil and Nix find all they hold dear—including their beloved tavern—in dire peril. To say nothing of the world itself.

Here is this week’s Around the Web news roundup of Star Wars and beyond.

Book News

Adventures in Wild Space: The Snare and The Nest came out this week in the US. Note this is a reprinting of the first and second book in the UK book series. Book 3 will be out in April and book 4 will be out in August.

If you’d like to get a signed copy of Paul S. Kemp‘s next book A Conversation in Blood, Paul is offering them with details on his website.

Kevin Hearne dropped some book news that he has an upcoming Iron Druid Chronicles anthology set for July called Besieged. In his words “it’s essentially book 8.5,” and it’s up for pre-order. He’s got the links here. Kevin will have another story in the anthology Urban Enemies which will be out in August. Then in October A Plauge of Giants will be out, the first in his new trilogy.

Author Kevin J. Anderson is also doing a Reddit AMA today.

I will be on a reddit AMA tomorrow at 2 PM EST for Clockwork Angels, Clockwork Lives, the graphic novels, 2113 https://t.co/WCfdAfmIAX

Assassin’s Creed: Heresy by Christie Golden is out today in hardcover, paperback and digital formats.

From New York Times bestselling author Christie Golden comes an original story set in the universe of Assassin’s Creed. Reliving the memories of his ancestor who fought beside Joan of Arc, high-ranking Templar Simon Hathaway slowly uncovers secrets of the past that could dangerously impact his present…and that of the entire Templar order.

This premium hardcover edition features exclusive art sketches and behind the scenes interviews, as well as a special code to unlock Assassin’s Creed rewards through Ubisoft Club’s loyalty program.

An endless conflict. An old wrong. A new revelation.

Simon Hathaway, member of the Templar Inner Sanctum, brings a cool head and detached manner to his new role as Head of Abstergo Industry’s Historical Research Division.

But Simon also has an insatiable curiosity, and is fascinated by the thought of experiencing history first-hand through his ancestor–Gabriel Laxart, who fought alongside the legendary Joan of Arc.

When he enters the newly-designed Animus for its initial project, Simon finds himself unprepared for what he discovers: How deep the conflict between the Templars and the Assassins goes. What Gabriel will do for the woman he both loves and reveres.

And the most dangerous truth of all: Who is the heretic…and who is the true believer.

Author Kevin J. Anderson was very active at MidAmeriCon II splitting duties between numerous panels as well as manning his WordFire booth on the con floor and signing autographs for fans. While there we caught up with Kevin and managed to snag a few moments for an interview. We talk with him about his series Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I., his Terra Incognita series, and his upcoming books Eternity’s Mind and Navigators of Dune.

While at MidAmeriCon II in Kansas City, MO, we were able to meet up with author Martha Wells to talk about her Books of the Raksura series, Star Wars: Razor’s Edge and her duology Emilie & the Hollow World and Emilie & the Sky World. Below we’ve posted the full audio of our interview. Enjoy!

Pawn’s Gambit and Other Stratagems is a fun short story collection currently available from Open Road Media. It collects a bunch of fun Timothy Zahn novels together and is worth checking out. Click here to read our full review.

It you’re looking for a fun fantasy book to dive into, I’d recommend giving Death’s Heretic a try. It’s set in the Pathfinder universe and explores the history of a priest in the service of the goddess of death as he’s sent to track down a kidnapped soul. Click here to read our full review.

The Edge of Worlds by Martha Wells is the fourth book in the Books of the Raksura series, not counting the two short story collections, and it kicks off a new adventure for the Indigo Cloud court. Click here to read our full review.